Living in a 674-storey State: “Tower” by Bae Myung-hoon
Six stories, told in as many chapters, are set within a massive 674-storey building: “Tower” (타워) by Bae Myung-hoon explores social relations and the seek for power in contemporary life. Released in 2009 in South Korea, the novel was translated into English by Sung Ryuin and published by Honford Star.
The setting and main protagonist of the book is the Beanstalk Tower, a 674-storey residential building. Its name will sound familiar to fans of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, as it draws inspiration from “Jack and the Beanstalk.” The Beanstalk is a sovereign state, housing 500,000 people. It is a place that seduces its residents. The narrative gradually escalates into absurdity while never fully detaching from reality. The tower’s universe is dystopian yet bears a striking resemblance to today’s society. Therefore, it’s no surprise that corruption runs rampant within the Beanstalk, the powerful pursue their goals, and the military plays with soldiers’ lives.
It all begins with research conducted to identify power concentrations within the tower. The idea is to trace the flow of high-quality alcohol used as gifts for officials and other prominent figures. In this initial story, for example, we discover that Beanstalk’s frontier is well-guarded and extends across multiple floors. Controls are necessary for at least two reasons: to prevent illegal immigration into the tower and to counter the risk of attacks by the Cosmomafia.
A Strong Symbol of Power
When reading Bae Myung-Hoon’s novel, the novel may remind you of other works such as “High Rise” by James Graham Ballard and “The World Inside” by Robert Silverberg, as well as the Tower of Babel — a comparison that the Beanstalk’s inhabitants themselves reject. While numerous similarities exist, “The Tower” is a unique work, original in its narrative, writing style, and interweaving of themes and situations.
Social and power dynamics lie at the core of this novel. Everyone seeks power, but no one talks about it. Those who have power want to increase it, while those who lack it suffer through frustration and envy. In the name of power and to defend their sovereignty and status, the Beanstalk is at war with neighboring countries and the Cosmomafia. Despite causing a great number of deaths, these wars seem to be of no interest to anyone within the tower.
The tower residents strive to eliminate their enemies without resorting to physical violence. Within this towering skyscraper, everything moves toward objectives that often seem absurd, in a late capitalist nightmare that could collapse at any moment. It is unsettling, after the tragedy of October 29, 2022, when hundreds of people were trampled during Halloween celebrations in Seoul, to hear about how — in the novel — during the holiday season, many people in the tower often die crushed by the crowds.
About Bae Myung-hoon
Born in 1978, Bae Myung-hoon (배명훈) hails from Busan and is a highly regarded science fiction author in South Korea. He has written numerous novels and short story collections, available in English translation.
This post was originally published in Italian on MondoCoreano.it.
